Montgomery County’s Ride On bus system has made it easier for residents to purchase the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card for customers 18 years of age and younger. The card can now be obtained at all 21 County libraries as well as 21 schools. Ride On is continuing to work with both public and private schools in the County to add additional purchase locations. Home-schooled students will also be eligible to purchase the card.The cost of the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card is $2.

“We are expanding our distribution system for the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip cards to make it easier for young people to purchase them and enjoy the benefits of taking transit,” said Carolyn Biggins, Ride On General Manager. “We want them to ride with us.”

In addition, the County Council today approved extending the hours for Kids Ride Free an additional hour, from 2 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. The extended hours begin July 1. Previously, the program ended at 7 p.m. Kids Ride Free provides free rides on Ride On buses to youth ages 5 to 18. Ride On will be transitioning by the end of the year to using Youth Cruiser SmarTrip cards for identification instead of school identification cards.

Proof of age and County residence is required to obtain a Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card. Riders or their parents must purchase the card in person. The Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® Card is also available at the TRiPS Commuter stores at 8413 Ramsey Avenue, Silver Spring and 17 Wisconsin Circle, Friendship Heights, and the Montgomery County Division of Treasury: 255 Rockville Pike, L-15, Rockville. In addition, passes and stored value can be added to the card at some CVS and Giant stores in or near Montgomery County and the Gaithersburg and Wheaton Zodiac Stores, as well as online.

With summer around the corner, the Youth Summer pass is an option that provides unlimited rides from June 1 through August 31 for $18. All Ride On Youth Cruiser passes are loaded onto the Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® card. The Youth Monthly pass provides kids unlimited rides on Ride On for only $11 a calendar month. Both passes provide a significant savings over regular fares. Money can also be loaded onto the cards for regular use, not just pass use, on Metrorail and other carriers.